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They also argue Points Of Order before the Speaker Of The House . The "House Leader" is not the same as the party leader, but for Opposition parties, is the leader's senior deputy. The Government House Leader is a senior Cabinet Minister who navigates the government's business in the House. This system is replicated in the various provincial Legislature s. The position of House Leader is especially important during periods of Minority Government where no one party has control of the House, and bills can only be passed with the agreement of several parties.

The Prime Minister Of Canada and Leader Of The Official Opposition originally had these responsibilities. In 1944 , however, as a result of the increasing burdens placed on government by the Second World War , Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King delegated these responsibilities to another member of the Canadian Cabinet . In 1946 , the position of Government House Leader was formally recognized.

The position of Opposition House Leader evolved in the 1950s as each Opposition party began to designate a particular MP to question the Government House Leader on upcoming House business. The title of Opposition House Leader became official in 1963 , and in 1974 , a special annual indemnity was attached to the position of House Leader in each of the opposition parties.

Notable Canadian House Leaders include Stanley Knowles of the New Democratic Party , and its predecessor, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation , Allan MacEachen and Herb Gray of the Liberal Party , and Erik Nielsen of the Progressive Conservative Party


SEE ALSO

For the equivalent position in the UK, see: Leader Of The House Of Commons , and Leader Of The House Of Lords . For Australia, see Leader Of The House (Australia) . For the United States, see Floor Leader .